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THANKS TIM
Tim Cahill hugs pitch invader as Australia legend makes his final international appearance
Socceroos' record goalscorer won his 108th cap as a late sub in the 3-0 win over Lebanon
TIM CAHILL said farewell to the Australian national team after 14 years and 108 caps.
The 38-year-old, the Socceroos' record goalscorer with 50 goals, came on as a late sub in a 3-0 friendly win against Lebanon in Sydney.
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Cahill gave a presentation on the pitch after full-time having been greeted by his tearful family.
Thousands of fans stayed behind to wave goodbye to the Millwall and Everton legend, who made his international debut in March 2004.
In his decade-plus of service for Australia, Cahill helped the Socceroos win the Oceania Nations Cup in 2004 and the Asian Cup in 2015.
He was also the first Australian to score at a World Cup finals and is their top scorer in the tournament with five goals across four tournaments.
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He is also Australia's top scorer in the Asian Cup with six.
Cahill came on for the final eight minutes against Lebanon with Graham Arnold's men already holding a three-goal lead.
At one point he was grabbed by a pitch invader trying for a hug - with Cahill getting involved to get him off the pitch.
After full-time, Cahill was embraced by his mum, Sisifo, who was seen with tears in her eyes in the stands.
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A podium was set up in the middle of the pitch with Cahill giving a speech to those in the crowd - with the emotion of the moment clearly getting the better of him and his kids who were all in tears.
He said: "This is the only time you’re going to see me cry.
"I want to say thank you, firstly to my family.
"For being there from day one, the sacrifices my family made for me is the reason why every time I step on that pitch I’m fearless, I’m free.
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"Nothing can hurt me on the pitch and everything I do is for my family.
"Secondly, I want to thank my teammates and all the staff that I’ve worked with. The coaches, the players, without you guys I’ll be nothing, honestly, I’ll be nothing.
"The coaches that are not here, the players that are not here, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.
"Now, the most important people as well, is the fans.
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"It was tough for me to play for Australia at the start, and I tell you what every time I wore the green and gold I play with my heart.
"And I never left anything off the pitch.
"So I don’t want to keep you too long, I just want to tell you all that this is just as much for all of you as it is for me.
"So thank you very much Australia."
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